She has a spring in her step
MBOMBELA - With her brand-new braces, a local little girl with a rare disease will start her journey to improve her movement and strengthen her legs, thanks to the efforts of Pediatric Care Africa (PCA) and donors Skankane Transport and Giving Back to the Community (GB2C).
Luché Lindeque (9) was diagnosed with spastic diplegia when she was very young, which has affected her legs. She was also diagnosed with glaucoma, which has left her with little to no eyesight.
Luché desperately needed orthotic braces to keep mobile and improve her walking. She had a set of braces she had been borrowing, however, a few months ago, the set had to be returned.
PCA’s secretary, Surika van der Merwe, said physiotherapy alone was not enough to help strengthen her legs, and she urgently needed a set of orthotic braces if she was to have a reasonable gait and walking ability.
PCA appealed for donations to afford these braces for Luché, as each orthotic brace costs R20 600 per set.
Van der Merwe said while asking for help with payment for the braces, Skankane Transport and GB2C of Crossing Shopping Centre stepped up and donated R10 000 each.
“The big day arrived and our little girl was fitted her brand-new braces by Neil Taljaard, a well-known orthotist at Kiaat Hospital, and the smile on her little face explained her joy and happiness,” said
Van der Merwe.
“Without the kindness and support of Skankane Transport, GB2C and Neil Taljaard, Luché would not have received her braces due to the prohibitively high price. Thank you all very much, you are her heroes,” she said.
Luché’s teachers at Pro Gratia said the difference the braces make, not only in her walking ability but on her outlook on life, had been amazing.
“We were really worried about her when the loan set was returned. She had always been this very outgoing and happy little girl, but without her braces, she became really reserved, would just want to sit in the classroom and not really interact with anyone,” said one of Luché’s teachers, Carina Snyman. “As soon as she heard she would be going back to the doctor to get the braces, we saw the biggest difference. She was back to her smiling, happy self. She is really intelligent and just wants to learn.
She is a remarkable little girl.”